The process of scientific research entails many responsibilities for the researchers partaking in the endeavor. Namely, creating a working methodology, adhering to strict guidelines, and serving their obligations to science and knowledge. However, a typically overlooked aspect of studies is the researchers' obligations to study participants and communities. Many questions arise when discussing the topic of responsibilities towards participants and community members, mainly whether or not diagnosing a condition or disease during research results in a duty to provide care and follow-up, regardless of whether the condition includes or excludes the participant from the study; and what kind of relationships exist between the standard of care in a research study and the extent of the investigator's responsibilities.
With regards to the first issue, diagnosing a condition during research should always result in an obligation to provide care and follow-up by the investigators. This is regardless of whether or not the condition includes or excludes the person from participating in the study. This is mainly because the overall purpose of research is to gain knowledge and data in order to benefit humanity by using newly found information and developing methods and machinations to improve the human condition. Although this care and follow-up may not need to come directly from the researchers themselves, the researchers could point the diagnosed patients in the direction of qualified medical professionals that can treat the afflicted patients. This would still be applicable and true even if the research group excluded th...
